Photoacoustic and laser-induced evaporation effects in liquids

It is shown experimentally that the photoacoustic pressure response in absorbing condensed matter to laser pulses with high frequency modulation of intensity can be used to monitor displacement of the irradiated surface. Some aspects of the processes under investigation are also discussed, including acoustic diffraction effects, features of acoustic reflection from liquid–air and liquid–solid boundaries, explosive boiling, and interference between thermoacoustic and vaporization pressure signals.